Sorry Plastic, Anji's playing anymore
Anji Gallanos pays attention. To her family and friends, to her community, and (importantly) to herself. She's an idea person, but also a realist, so her friends never roll their eyes at "Anji's crazy ideas." In fact, just the opposite - we usually offer help, for fear of being left pitifully behind. So I've learned to pay attention to Anji.

Poetry Omnibus: I. ADULT WINNERS
For the fifth year in a row, Juneau's buses are somewhere you can read an original poem written by a local resident, courtesy of the Poetry Omnibus contest.

Al 'Mean Machine' Valentine retires from boxing life
The boxer sits in an aged recliner, behind a make-shift curtain roughly four-foot square, his hands taped awaiting the familiar pressure of sweaty 12-ounce boxing gloves, knowing that this is his last fight.

Things to do within an hour's drive of Las Vegas
Las Vegas might surprise you. It's not all about drinking, gambling and doing dumb things that might get you on Taxicab Confessions - there are many outdoor activities within an hour's drive, and there are interesting museums in the city itself.

Mad passion: for craft beer
I was reading an industry paper a while back, and was struck by a headline: "Greg Koch tells aspiring craft brewers 'Be passionate - mad passionate, or stay home.'"

L'attitude enters digital realm
If you're reading April's L'attitude, you've likely picked it up because you were curious to see how an Alaskan boom operator filming in California handles facing down a brown bear. Or what a boxer retiring after decades in the ring has to say about hanging up his gloves. Or what other thought-provoking, beautiful, interesting, and/or arresting art your fellow Southeast Alaskans can produce.

At a Cafe
I'm sitting directly behind a young couple. They aren't talking to each other. Just sitting and staring out the window in opposite directions.

Make it Primitivo please
With the wacky Southeast weather, one is tempted to go for a crisp white wine to drink in the sun one day, and then move back to a hearty big bold red wine the next. Sun and then sleet and then sun and then sleet, the weather often dictates what might be appropriate to drink. Having almost taken an amazing Sancerre home the other day, with the expectation of continued spring-like weather, I had planned on spending the Sunday in the sun, enjoying my French Sauvignon Blanc. I had longed all winter to just sit in the sun tasting the wonderful complex minerality and visualizing a spring day in France. As Alaska would have it, I awoke to rain, cold temperatures and the drive to have something a bit heartier for my late afternoon lunch.

Getting green done
What people are doing all over town to meet Juneau's current needs, without compromising our future responsibilities.

The ALASKAN who stares down a brown bear while everyone flees
It's winter. There is a brown bear standing in front of me, and someone is whispering into my ear to get the hell out of there. What a crappy way to start work, looking down the snout of an ornery grizzly bear clacking his jaw and looking anxious. All I can think about is how much can an 800-pound bear eat? Probably two of me with a side of the guy who just ran like a banshee. Bastard. I'm not really scared but I can't help thinking I should have just stayed in Juneau. Stuff like this only happens to Alaskans in the minds of people who don't live in Alaska, like people who live in Los Angeles. The very same people I was surrounded by 30 seconds ago, until they all ran away. Now it's just me and my new friend.

Poetry Omnibus: II. YOUTH WINNERS
For the fifth year in a row, Juneau's buses are somewhere you can read an original poem written by a local resident, courtesy of the Poetry Omnibus contest.

Sitka Sound: Paris of the Pacific
Sitka's coastal rainforest setting is stunning, its location strategic, and its land so lush it's been fought over for hundreds of years. Fish, berries, herring caviar, deer, bears, sea otter and islands abound, making it a hunter-gatherers paradise.

Dispensing of the disposable lifestyle
Next time you go to a coffee shop or any eating establishment, look around for towers of paper cups, baskets of disposable cutlery, piles of to-go boxes, and stacks of paper napkins. Neatly arranged and unassuming, every one of these items is destined for a short lifespan of utility and an extended stay at the Juneau landfill.

German Potato Salad: A maiden voyage
Last year, for reasons I cannot clearly recall, I agreed to try my hand at making German Potato Salad. Armed with a recipe from a cookbook we have had at our house since I was a little kid, I began in the kitchen with a fair amount of confidence. After all, over the past several years I have grown to like the kitchen more and more, and it's fun to try your hand at something new every now and then.

Acronyms reveal true meaning
Honesty is always demonstrated by what's done and happens, and not by what's said or promised. Here's a sample of words being used by dishonest citizens and politicians that, by subsequently revealed conduct and consequences, are actually mere acronyms:

Photo: In full bloom
Multi-colored crocuses are in full bloom on the southern exposure of Centennial Hall Wednesday.

Photo: Stand up and be counted
Ronald Peterson tries on the Census 2010 hat given away during a 'March to the Mailbox' event at the State OfficeBuilding Thursday as part of a statewide rally to promote filling out and mailing the forms back.

Kenneth Burnheart Johnson Jr.
Angoon resident Kenneth Burnheart Johnson Jr., well known by friends and family as "Phantom," died March 27, 2010, in Angoon. He was 25.

Sealaska Corp. is an Alaska Native institution, not a greedy corporation
I attended one of Sen. Lisa Murkowski's community meetings on the "Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act" in person and listened to several more online. I've also read many of the letters to the editor in the Juneau Empire. I've noticed an alarming trend in those who speak in opposition to the Haa Aaní Bill.

Outside editorial: End hate speech in politics
It's been obvious for some time that political discourse in this country has been coarsened by angry voices on the right and left, but recent outbursts of hostility have taken political differences to dangerous levels.

Pro: US officials must force Toyota to do right
WASHINGTON - What did Toyota know and when did it know it? Why didn't it do something about dangerous mechanical failures when everything was at risk? Now their entire fleet of vehicles, their network of dealers and their corporate brand has been damaged. And we are all left wondering, "Why did they drag their feet?"

Performance scholarships will help improve schools
The Governor's Performance Scholarship proposal would award substantial postsecondary scholarships to Alaska students who take a challenging curriculum in high school and meet thresholds for performance on grades and tests. The scholarships would be used at Alaska institutions, both technical and academic.

Something rotten in Alaska
In a recent development that could almost be Shakespearean in plotline, Alaska's wildlife biologists have found themselves between a rock and a hard place: If they speak out, they will likely either be fired or find themselves transferred to a post in the Aleutian Islands. If they don't, a more internal personal purgatory may wreak havoc with them on down the line.

Con: Toyota's safety, quality record belies current piling on
WASHINGTON - It is possible that new, damning details could come to light about Toyota's response to faulty accelerator claims. But absent new revelations - and if we are to judge based solely on what we know now - Toyota is getting a bum rap.

Daylight savings time bill will leave Alaska behind
While Juneau slept, apparently unaware, the Alaska House passed a bill to do away with daylight savings time in Alaska. Such a change would be harmful to the entire state, but it would be especially disastrous to Southeast Alaska.

Fundraiser to benefit Taggart's Iditarod quest
KETCHIKAN - There will be a Fundraiser Garage Sale on Saturday, April 24 in the Houghtaling School gym for Angie Taggart's Quest to the Iditarod 2011. Please encourage people to bring nice things for the garage sale. Attendees will be able to take what they want and make a donation for Taggart's Iditarod 2011 quest. Taggart is a teacher from Ketchikan, and she will be taking off this summer to train and prepare for the Iditarod. Donations can be made from any place in the country or world. Donations can be made online at http://mushingadventures.blogspot.com/. Donations may also be mailed to Angie Taggart, 318 Gold Rd, Ketchikan, AK 99901.

2010 Southeast chinook salmon quotas announced
JUNEAU - The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced, under the guidelines of the abundance-based management system of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, the 2010 all-gear Southeast Alaska Chinook salmon harvest quota is 221,800 fish.

Pre-application period open for Home Opportunity Program
JUNEAU - Housing First Inc. has been awarded additional HOP funding and is providing this notice of a limited pre-application period opening. There are funds available for three to four applicants receiving $20,000 to $30,000 in zero-interest home loans. The pre-application period will close April 7.

Education chief makes new pitch on scholarships
JUNEAU - Lawmakers could pass Gov. Sean Parnell's $400 million merit scholarship plan this year - without all the money. That's the argument being made by state Education Commissioner Larry LeDoux.

Breakthrough Bears
After back-to-back runner-up and three top-three finishes the last three years, the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears girls' track and field team is ready to see what the view is like from the top of the 4A mountain.

Soccer Bears seek return to '08 form
The Juneau-Douglas boys' soccer team began its 2010 campaign hungry for a chance to compete for another state championship, and it just might have the horses to do it.

Falcons ready to hit the track running
With track season starting today in Ketchikan, Thunder Mountain High School will be testing out yet another new sports program for the first time, and the Falcons are ready for the next challenge.

Juneau's Hurtte wins award
Juneau's Susana Hurtte received the St. Louis College of Pharmacy Scholar-Athlete award for the women's basketball team at the college's athletic awards banquet on March 6.

Gagnon gets the whistle
A familiar face will don the whistle and stopwatch this year as the new head coach of the Juneau-Douglas track and field team.

Senate passes oil and gas tax bill
The Alaska Senate passed a bill to remove the link between oil and gas taxes, a measure which once threatened to be a divisive issue but later won overwhelming approval after it was amended.